Painful periods

It’s very common for a woman to experience some pain during her period and generally feel a bit unwell. Most women know their body and their menstrual cycle well enough not to let their period get in the way of their everyday life.

But for some women, having their period is so painful it’s almost invalidating. And they may have to stay home from school or work and lie in bed for a day or two, month after month.

Painful periods are rarely caused by disease. But they can be caused by endometriosis or bleeding disturbances. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor, to rule out disease and to get to some help to alleviate the pain.

Some pain is natural and caused by contractions of the muscles in the uterus. Research has also shown that some of the pelvic muscles tense up and cause pain and strain to the lower back, both before and during your period.

Treatment

If the pain is relatively mild, we recommend non-prescription painkillers. If the period pains are severe, you may want to consider prescription anti-rheumatic painkillers, or birth-control pills. Birth-control pills also act as a contraceptive and they tend to make your periods shorter and weaker.

A lot of women also use relaxation exercises designed especially for women suffering from painful periods.